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Tay Sachs Disease

National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

ImportantIt is possible that the main title of the report Tay Sachs Disease is not the name you expected.

Disorder Subdivisions

None

General Discussion

Tay-Sachs disease is a rare, neurodegenerative disorder in which deficiency of an enzyme (hexosaminidase A) results in excessive accumulation of certain fats (lipids) known as gangliosides in the brain and nerve cells. This abnormal accumulation of gangliosides leads to progressive dysfunction of the central nervous system. This disorder is categorized as a lysosomal storage disease. Lysosomes are the major digestive units in cells. Enzymes within lysosomes break down or "digest" nutrients, including certain complex carbohydrates and fats.

Symptoms associated with Tay-Sachs disease may include an exaggerated startle response to sudden noises, listlessness, loss of previously acquired skills (i.e., psychomotor regression), and severely diminished muscle tone (hypotonia). With disease progression, affected infants and children may develop cherry-red spots within the middle layer of the eyes, gradual loss of vision, and deafness, increasing muscle stiffness and restricted movements (spasticity), eventual paralysis, uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain (seizures), and deterioration of cognitive processes (dementia). The classical form of Tay-Sachs disease occurs during infancy; an adult form (late-onset Tay-Sachs disease) may occur anytime from adolescence to the mid 30's.

Tay-Sachs disease is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. The disorder results from changes (mutations) of a gene known as the HEXA gene, which regulates production of the hexosaminidase A enzyme. The HEXA gene has been mapped to the long arm (q) of chromosome 15 (15q23-q24).

Supporting Organizations

CLIMB (Children Living with Inherited Metabolic Diseases)

Climb Building

176 Nantwich Road

Crewe, CW2 6BG

United Kingdom

Tel: 4408452412173

Fax: 4408452412174

Email: enquiries@climb.org.uk

Website: http://www.CLIMB.org.uk

Canadian Society for Mucopolysaccharide and Related Diseases, Inc.

#218-2055 Commercial Drive

Vancouver, BC V5N 0C7

Canada

Tel: (604) 924-5130

Tel: 1-800-667-1846

Email: info@mpssociety.ca

Website: http://www.mpssociety.ca

Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center

PO Box 8126

Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126

Tel: (301)251-4925

Fax: (301)251-4911

Tel: (888)205-2311

Website: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/

Hide &#038; Seek Foundation for Lysosomal Disease Research

6475 East Pacific Coast Highway Suite 466

Long Beach, CA 90803

Tel: (877)621-1122

Fax: (866)215-8850

Email: info@hideandseek.org

Website: http://www.hideandseek.org

Instituto de Errores Innatos del Metabolismo

Carrera 7 No 40 - 62

Bogota,

Colombia

Tel: 5713208320

Email: abarrera@javeriana.edu.co

Website: http://www.javeriana.edu.co/ieim/programas_ieim.htm

Let Them Hear Foundation

1900 University Avenue, Suite 101

East Palo Alto, CA 94303

Tel: (650)462-3174

Fax: (650)462-3144

Email: info@letthemhear.org

Website: http://www.letthemhear.org

March of Dimes

1275 Mamaroneck Avenue

White Plains, NY 10605

Tel: (914)997-4488

Fax: (914)997-4763

Email: AskUs@marchofdimes.org or preguntas@nacersano.org

Website: http://www.marchofdimes.org and nacersano.org

NIH/National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

31 Center Dr

Building 31, Room 2A32

Bethesda, MD 20892

Fax: (866)760-5947

Tel: (800)370-2943

Email: NICHDInformationResourceCenter@mail.nih.gov

Website: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/

NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

P.O. Box 5801

Bethesda, MD 20824

Tel: (301)496-5751

Fax: (301)402-2186

Tel: (800)352-9424

Website: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/

National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Association, Inc.

2001 Beacon Street

204

Brookline, MA 02146-4227

USA

Tel: (617)277-4463

Fax: (617)277-0134

Tel: (800)906-8723

Email: info@ntsad.org

Website: http://www.NTSAD.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). For a full-text version of this report, go to www.rarediseases.org and click on Rare Disease Database under "Rare Disease Information".

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

Last Updated: 1/21/2008Copyright 2002 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

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